2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350

2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350
Race details
Race 16 of 36 in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 program cover.
The 2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 program cover.
Date June 23, 2002
Official name 14th Annual Dodge/Save Mart 350
Location Sonoma, California, Infineon Raceway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.20 km)
Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.285 km)
Scheduled Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.285 km)
Average speed 81.007 miles per hour (130.368 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 1:16.640
Most laps led
Driver Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 31
Winner
No. 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing
Television in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio Performance Racing Network

The 2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 was the 16th stock car race of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 14th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, June 23, 2002, in Sonoma, California, at the club layout in Infineon Raceway, a 1.99 miles (3.20 km) permanent road course layout. The race took the scheduled 110 laps to complete. Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would take advantage of a disaster-stricken Jerry Nadeau when Nadeau suffered rear end problems while leading with three to go.[1][2] The win was Rudd's 23rd and final NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first and only win of the season. To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing and Terry Labonte of Hendrick Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

The layout of Infineon Raceway used by NASCAR at the time.

Infineon Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International. The standard road course at Infineon Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[3] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[4] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).[5]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Jim Inglebright Roadrunner Motorsports Chevrolet Jelly Belly
1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Pennzoil
2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford Miller Lite
4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet Kodak
5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's
6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford Viagra
7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge Sirius Satellite Radio
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet Budweiser
9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac Valvoline
11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford Hooters
12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford Alltel
14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac Conseco
15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford AT&T Broadband
18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac Interstate Batteries
19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dodge
20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot
21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford Motorcraft
22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar
23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge Hills Bros. Coffee
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet UAW, Delphi
26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford Discover Card
28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco, Havoline
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet GM Goodwrench
30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet America Online
31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cingular Wireless
32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford Tide
36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac M&M's
40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Coors Original
41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Target
43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge Cheerios
44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge Georgia-Pacific Brawny
45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge Sprint, Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America
46 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford Ash Motorsports
48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's
55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet Square D
62 Austin Cameron Orleans Racing Chevrolet NAPA Tools & Equipment
67 Boris Said Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford Jasper Engines & Transmissions
87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Cellular One
88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS
97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Rubbermaid, Sharpie
99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Citgo
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 21, at 10:20 AM PST, and would last for two hours.[6] Ryan Newman of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.664 and an average speed of 93.447 miles per hour (150.388 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 1:16.664 93.447
2 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:16.679 93.428
3 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 1:16.704 93.398
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, June 22, at 9:30 AM PST, and would last for 45 minutes.[6] Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:17.455 and an average speed of 92.492 miles per hour (148.851 km/h).[8]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 1:17.455 92.492
2 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:17.491 92.449
3 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:17.496 92.443
Full second practice results

Third and final practice

The third and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 22, at 11:15 AM PST, and would last for 45 minutes.[6] Robby Gordon of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:16.110 and an average speed of 94.127 miles per hour (151.483 km/h).[9]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:16.110 94.127
2 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:16.926 93.129
3 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 1:16.940 93.112
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, June 21, at 2:05 PM PST. Drivers would each have one lap to set a lap time.[6] Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.[10]

Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 1:16.640 and an average speed of 93.476 miles per hour (150.435 km/h).[11]

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Stacy Compton and Brandon Ash.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:16.640 93.476
2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 1:16.880 93.184
3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 1:16.895 93.166
4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:16.916 93.141
5 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:16.936 93.116
6 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 1:16.975 93.069
7 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 1:16.994 93.046
8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 1:17.024 93.010
9 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:17.042 92.988
10 67 Boris Said Jasper Motorsports Ford 1:17.075 92.948
11 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 1:17.157 92.850
12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 1:17.205 92.792
13 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:17.472 92.472
14 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 1:17.488 92.453
15 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.529 92.404
16 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.536 92.396
17 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 1:17.551 92.378
18 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 1:17.642 92.270
19 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 1:17.849 92.024
20 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:17.915 91.946
21 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 1:17.971 91.880
22 44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:18.033 91.807
23 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:18.053 91.784
24 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:18.072 91.761
25 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 1:18.130 91.693
26 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:18.228 91.578
27 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 1:18.238 91.567
28 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:18.244 91.560
29 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 1:18.339 91.449
30 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 1:18.391 91.388
31 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 1:18.437 91.334
32 62 Austin Cameron Orleans Racing Chevrolet 1:18.532 91.224
33 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:18.566 91.185
34 0 Jim Inglebright Roadrunner Motorsports Chevrolet 1:18.574 91.175
35 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:18.620 91.122
36 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 1:18.677 91.056
Provisionals
37 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford — —
38 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 1:19.468 90.149
39 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:19.436 90.186
40 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:23.223 86.082
41 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 1:19.206 90.448
42 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 1:20.523 88.968
43 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 1:18.731 90.993
Failed to qualify
44 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac 1:20.081 89.459
45 46 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford 1:19.619 89.979
Official qualifying results

Race results

Fin[12] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 7 28 Ricky Rudd Robert Yates Racing Ford 110 3 running 180 $184,992
2 1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 110 6 running 175 $143,203
3 39 5 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 165 $113,933
4 2 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 110 30 running 165 $81,765
5 33 30 Jeff Green Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 0 running 155 $63,990
6 40 21 Elliott Sadler Wood Brothers Racing Ford 110 0 running 150 $84,815
7 12 6 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 110 0 running 146 $93,048
8 5 9 Bill Elliott Evernham Motorsports Dodge 110 3 running 147 $83,546
9 17 12 Ryan Newman (R) Penske Racing Ford 110 0 running 138 $82,502
10 13 43 John Andretti Petty Enterprises Dodge 110 15 running 139 $95,643
11 9 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 0 running 130 $82,006
12 16 4 Mike Skinner Morgan–McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 127 $69,385
13 14 18 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 110 0 running 124 $96,003
14 24 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 0 running 121 $95,453
15 37 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 110 0 running 118 $100,353
16 30 10 Johnny Benson Jr. MBV Motorsports Pontiac 110 0 running 115 $79,650
17 27 45 Kyle Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 110 0 running 112 $52,020
18 28 25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 109 $59,475
19 38 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 110 0 running 106 $59,175
20 21 77 Dave Blaney Jasper Motorsports Ford 110 0 running 103 $74,275
21 43 7 Casey Atwood Ultra-Evernham Motorsports Dodge 110 0 running 100 $61,850
22 20 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 110 0 running 97 $59,175
23 42 1 Steve Park Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 110 0 running 94 $80,500
24 25 11 Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Racing Ford 110 1 running 96 $58,439
25 19 87 Ron Fellows NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 110 0 running 88 $47,930
26 29 26 Todd Bodine Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford 110 1 running 90 $47,500
27 8 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 110 0 running 82 $91,715
28 26 19 Jeremy Mayfield Evernham Motorsports Dodge 109 0 running 79 $55,380
29 3 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 109 0 running 76 $92,527
30 23 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 109 0 running 73 $84,607
31 31 55 Bobby Hamilton Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 109 0 running 70 $55,250
32 34 0 Jim Inglebright Roadrunner Motorsports Chevrolet 109 0 running 67 $47,190
33 41 23 Hut Stricklin Bill Davis Racing Dodge 109 0 running 64 $55,160
34 22 44 Jerry Nadeau Petty Enterprises Dodge 107 20 rear end 66 $47,150
35 15 48 Jimmie Johnson (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 104 0 rear end 58 $47,130
36 35 41 Jimmy Spencer Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 104 0 rear end 55 $47,110
37 4 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 103 31 running 62 $110,368
38 18 36 Ken Schrader MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 97 0 running 49 $55,070
39 6 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 90 0 running 46 $65,045
40 11 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge 86 0 engine 43 $90,010
41 10 67 Boris Said Jasper Motorsports Ford 82 0 crash 40 $46,975
42 32 62 Austin Cameron Orleans Racing Chevrolet 24 0 clutch 37 $46,945
43 36 40 Sterling Marlin Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 19 0 engine 34 $89,475
Failed to qualify
44 14 Stacy Compton A. J. Foyt Enterprises Pontiac
45 46 Brandon Ash Ash Motorsports Ford
Official race results

References

  1. ^ Smithson, Ryan (2002-06-24). "Rudd wins on the road as Nadeau fades". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-12-02. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  2. ^ "Luck finally turns Ricky Rudd's way". Baxter Bulletin. 2002-06-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-03-11 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Sears Point". www.gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. ^ "Passing is tough in Chute | chronicle.augusta.com". 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  5. ^ "SEARS POINT BREAKS GROUND ON MODIFIED CHUTE - RacingWest". 2007-09-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  6. ^ a b c d "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Sonoma Race Info Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2002-10-03. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  7. ^ "Winston Cup practice speeds". ThatsRacin. 2002-06-21. Archived from the original on 2002-10-03. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  8. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Sonoma Practice 2 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-12-14. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  9. ^ "NASCAR.com - Races - 2002 Sonoma Practice 3 Results". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-12-14. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  10. ^ "Jayski's Silly Season Site - 2002 Provisional/Owners Points Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  11. ^ Smithson, Ryan (2002-06-23). "Stewart blazes to first Bud Pole of the year - June 23, 2002". NASCAR.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-15. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  12. ^ "2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
Previous race:
2002 Sirius Satellite Radio 400 		NASCAR Winston Cup Series
2002 season 		Next race:
2002 Pepsi 400